St. Paul DWI Lawyer

Nearly one in seven Minnesota drivers has a DWI conviction. DWI checkpoints, random stops, and driving conduct are some precursors which lead to arrests. However, sometimes an arrest does not meet the legally required standards of law. In these cases, your DWI may be dismissed after a variety of legal motions and filings with the court. Whether there is merit to the charges or not, you must have a St. Paul DWI lawyer in your corner throughout the entire legal process.

At Lesch Law Firm, you have experienced attorneys who negotiate your case to receive the fairest result. John Lesch prosecuted DWIs for the City of Saint Paul for 15 years, so he understands the weak points in any DWI case.

Defense Against Different Types Of DWI Charges In Minnesota

The history of Minnesota DWI law stems from decades-old DWI (Driving While Intoxicated), statutes, interrupted by a period where the crime was called DUI (Driving Under the Influence), and now exists on the books as (DWI) Driving While Impaired. While the permissible blood alcohol limit has changed over the years, the elements of these crimes remain, essentially, the same. Since 2005, the legal blood alcohol limit has been .08.

If you test over that limit, you violate the DWI law even if you pass every field sobriety test. On the other hand, if your blood alcohol tests at .05%, but police can show that alcohol impaired your ability to drive, you still violate the statute. This is why nearly every driver charged with DWI in Minnesota will see two charges on their criminal complaint (1) Driving While Impaired, and (2) Over .08% BAC. A conviction to either charge will have the same effect on your record. Different types of DWI are listed below:

Boating while intoxicated
OWI if operating any type of vehicle under the influence
Commercial DWI
Underage DWI
Non-resident DWI

Further, A DWI charge can be aggravated by any of these factors:

Blood alcohol concentration (BAC) over .20 percent
A minor present in the vehicle at the time of the offense
Bodily injury caused in an accident due to intoxication
Previous DWI charges within the past 10 years

Consequences of a conviction may include vehicle forfeiture, license suspension or revocation, the installation of an ignition interlock device, B-card restrictions, whiskey plates, jail time, and fines. You could be dealt any combination of these consequences, depending on the charge.

Giving You Solid Advice In Minnesota

Call Lesch Law Firm when you face a DWI arrest. Make the call to a St. Paul DWI lawyer as soon as possible, and do so before you make any statements to law enforcement. Even if you aren’t sure you should submit to field sobriety testing, we can give you the right advice. Refusing to take a test is a crime in Minnesota, and your license can be taken away.

There are criminal, civil, employment, and financial consequences to a DWI charge, which is why having a DWI/DUI attorney representing you and protecting your rights is important from the beginning of the process.

Contact A St. Paul DWI Lawyer MN

A DWI arrest usually results in a criminal charge and a mark on your driving record. If you or a loved one has been charged with DWI, speak to a DWI defense attorney immediately. Having the proper representation by your side makes all the difference in the long term consequences of your case. To learn more about how Lesch Law Firm can help you, call 651-302-7009 and request a free consultation.